Costco to stop selling abortion pill mifepristone at its US pharmacy stores

Costco Wholesale said on Thursday it will stop selling abortion pill mifepristone across all its US pharmacy stores, citing low demand.

"Our position at this time not to sell mifepristone, which has not changed, is based on the lack of demand from our members and other patients, who we understand generally have the drug dispensed by their medical providers," Costco said, adding that it will stop the sale at its more than 500 pharmacies.

The decision comes amid campaigns against the pill by religious activist groups, including Inspire Investing and Alliance Defending Freedom.

"Many retailers have become more cautious about taking overt political or social stances after recent controversies triggered boycotts, negative media coverage, and polarized consumer reactions," said Arun Sundaram, senior analyst at CFRA.

Bloomberg reported earlier in the day that religious activist groups, which targeted retailers including Costco, Kroger, Walmart and Albertsons last year, will now focus on Walgreens and CVS Health that dispense the pill in states where abortion is legal.

"The US Supreme Court's ruling on mifepristone access allows Walgreens to continue to dispense mifepristone under the FDA guidelines," Walgreens' website states.

Kroger said it was reviewing the FDA's updated mifepristone Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) drug safety program, while CVS told Reuters that it fills "prescriptions for mifepristone in select states where legally permissible."

Mifepristone was approved in combination with misoprostol in 2000 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to end a pregnancy within 10 weeks of gestation.

Mifepristone blocks progesterone, the hormone that helps a woman's body maintain the lining of the uterus during pregnancy. Misoprostol is then taken to complete the abortion process.

Danco Laboratories, which manufactures the abortion pill regimen, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment, while Walmart declined to comment.